zi1 gei2 zi1 bei2知己知彼
Jyutpingzi1 gei2 zi1 bei2
Yalejī géi jī béi
Definition
To know oneself and the opponent well, ensuring victory or avoiding defeat in a conflict.
neutralworkother
How it's used
Originating from Sun Tzu's Art of War, this idiom is widely used in modern Cantonese to describe strategic preparation in competitive environments like business, sports, or negotiations. It emphasizes that success relies on a balanced assessment of both one's own strengths and the opponent's weaknesses. It is rarely used in casual small talk and carries a slightly formal or serious tone.
Examples
The most important thing in war is to know yourself and your enemy; don't charge in blindly.
You haven't even figured out your opponent's background yet, how can you claim to know yourself and the enemy?
Related words
Common phrases
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
